Container in particular for producing and storing wine and fruit gummy and the like

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a novel container ( 1 ) which is configured to make a production process more efficient and cost effective in particular when producing wine- and fruit gummy. Thus, ventilation channels ( 24, 26 ) are advantageously provided which facilitate air circulation into a container interior ( 4 ) also for stacked containers ( 1 ).

FIELD

The present invention relates to a container for producing and storing wine and fruit gummy.

BACKGROUND

Containers of this type are used in particular for producing wine- and fruit gummy, but also for all types of so called candy products. Thus, a liquid and hot wine- or fruit gummy mass which typically includes glucose, crystal sugar, gelatin and water is filled into the container and then cools in the container to form a solid shape. Further additives like aromatic additives and colorants can be introduced into the mass before cooling. The cooling then takes typically 2-5 days, wherein the mass also dries. The cooling- and drying step is very important for producing wine- and fruit gummy, wherein room temperature and air humidity are substantial factors determining the quality of the gummy,

In order to prevent the gummy mass from adhering to containers and thus to facilitate removing the finished gummy from the containers after cooling the interior of the containers is typically coated with starch powder in order to form a so called powder box. Simultaneously, the starch powder can also be used for shaping in that negative images of the gummy products to be produced are pressed into the starch powder through embossing stamps.

SUMMARY

Thus, it is an object to provide a container which snakes this production process more efficient and thus more cost effective.

This is achieved using a container having a base, a container wall and a container interior, wherein at least one ventilation channel is provided to facilitate air flow between the container base and the container wall. Embodiments are provided in the dependent claims.

The container includes a container base, a container wall and a container interior, and at least one ventilation channel which facilitates an air flow between the container base and the container wall. Thus the term “air flow” between the container base and the container wall means that air can pass from the portion below the container base into the portion adjacent to the container wall and vice versa. This passage occurs irrespective of air flows about the container. Thus, it is among other things advantageously provided when stacking plural containers of this type that air can move from an outside of the stack into an interior of a container disposed in the stack, such as from the stacking side through the exterior of the base of a stacked container into the interior of a container that is arranged directly under the stacked container. Put differently, the ventilation channel is a channel that extends between the container wall and the container base of a container, but which does not reach into the interior of the container.

This is of particular importance for the quality of the wine- and fruit gummy to be produced. Since the wine- and fruit gummy mass is cast from a hot liquid, the containers had been stored by themselves until the mass had cooled down and also dried. The container described herein provides substantially more efficient and cost effective production of wine- and fruit gummy mass because many containers of this type can be stacked on top of one another which greatly reduces the required floor space. The ventilation channels facilitate a sufficient circulation of air in stacked condition for simultaneously drying and dissipating heat through the ventilation openings. In spite of the stacking, the drying and cooling time is not negatively influenced due to the ventilation openings and a high wine and fruit gummy quality is achieved. The volume of circulating air can thus be controlled through the number and size of the ventilation channels.

The ventilation channel can be configured as a pass through opening, provided with a surrounding wall. Alternatively, the ventilation channel can be configured without a wall section in the portion of the container edge between the container wall and the container base, using an indentation which facilitates circulation.

In another embodiment, the container includes a container base component and an insert, wherein the insert is configured to be arranged in the container base and configured to be permanently connected with the container base. Through this embodiment. the entire container does not conic into contact with the products to be received. Thus, the container can be cleaned more quickly and can be reused more quickly when a plurality of insert is being stored. In particular, when producing wine- and fruit gummy, pre powdered inserts can be kept in stock already, which are then inserted into container base components, from which the finished products and the used inserts have been removed. Thus, not so many containers have to be stored which renders the production process more cost effective. Furthermore, the inserts can be provided with properties that are adapted in particular to the objects to be stored in the container, wherein the production process for the container is facilitated because the container base can be produced (e.g., through conventional injection molding which provides the desired stability for the container). The insert in the interior of the container covers the container base and at least partially covers the container wall.

In another embodiment, the insert is disengageably fixated through a fixation frame at the container base component, such as at the container wall. Due to this fixation frame the insert itself does not have to include fixation elements and thus the elements to be stored can be further reduced since only one container base component and fixation frame and plural inserts are required for plural containers to be used one after the other. The insert can be arranged between the fixation frame and the container base component. Snap locking elements for disengageable snap locking of fixation frame and container base can be provided, wherein the snap locking elements are provided as clip shaped snap locking elements.

The container base component may include rounded edge portions at least at the transition from the container base to container wall in the container interior. This allows the container base to be produced more easily and without sink marks caused by the injection molding process. Furthermore, edge portions thus configured are easier to clean.

In a preferred embodiment the insert is configured pre-formed with reference to the container base. Then the insert and the container base component are configured to mate in a form locking manner and the insert is supported by the container base over the entire base surface of the insert.

When the insert is formed from disposable material it can be produced in a cost effective manner and separate cleaning processes can be omitted. However, the insert can also be made from reusable material.

The insert can be configured at least partially flexible. For example the rim through which the insert is fixated at the container base can be configured stiff and the rest can be configured flexible. Then the process of emptying the container is provided in a particularly simple manner, since the insert is then provided like a bag in the container base and the bag can move away from the container base when the container is turned over. In order to facilitate this even more, openings provided in the container base component can be oriented towards the interior of the container to prevent a vacuum effect with reference to the insert. These openings also facilitate inserting the insert into the container base component.

The surface of the insert which is oriented towards the interior of the container can be configured with reduced friction, such as substantially without friction. Then the product stored in the container can be removed from the container particularly easily. It is known to persons skilled in the art how to adjust a friction reduction or friction prevention of this type for particular products. This can be achieved by adjusting the surface in a hydrophobic manner and/or the surface structure can be configured so that the known lotus effect is provided.

In order to facilitate handling the container, at least two opposed handles are provided in the container wall.

In order to facilitate stacking and in order to safely prevent slippage, a stacking rim and/or a stacking edge can be provided at the container base, wherein the stacking edge engages a lower container in particular in a form locking manner when stacking two identical containers on top of one another or a stacking rim reaches around a respective stacking edge of a lower container in a form locking manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the disclosed embodiments are now described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the container.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the container according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged detail of a corner portion of the container base component of the container according FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates a detail of the bottom side of e container base component according to FIG. 3.

FIGS. 1-4 schematically illustrate an embodiment of the container 1. It is apparent from FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 that the container 1 includes a container base 2 and a container wall 3 which surrounds the interior 4 of the container, wherein the interior 4 of the container opposite to the container base 2 is openly accessible. The container base component 5 the container 1 includes an insert 6 which is arranged at the container wall 3 through a fixation rim 7 and covers the container base 2 and the container wall 3 which are both arranged at the container base component 5. The container 1 has a base 2, and the container wall 3 includes four container sides 8, 9, 10, 11.

It is apparent in particular from the exploded view of FIG. 2 that the container 1 can be configured in three pieces, namely, the container base component 5, the insert 6 and the fixation rim 7. It is apparent from FIG. 3 that the container base 5 in the edge portions 12 respectively includes engagement lugs 13 which engage respective snap locking openings 14 of the fixation rim 7. The container base component 5 furthermore includes an upper edge 15 which is arranged recessed with respect to the engagement lugs 13. The insert 6 in turn includes a collar 16 which reaches around the edge 15 of the container base component 5 in a form locking manner. The fixation frame 7 in turn includes a circumferential collar 17 which in turn reaches around the circumferential collar 16 of the insert 6 in a form locking manner and thus fixates the insert 6 at the container base component 5 through the interaction with the snap locking elements 13, 14.

The circumferential collar 17 of the fixation frame 7 includes tongue shaped protrusions 18 in edge portions, wherein the protrusions facilitate disengaging the snap locking between the snap locking elements 13, 14 through leverage in combination with a particular flexibility of the fixation frame 7 preferably made from plastic material through injection molding.

The container base component 5 is also preferably made from plastic material through injection molding. The insert 6 can be made from a disposable material or reuseable material and preferably includes a preformed shape as illustrated which corresponds to the inner contour of the container base component 5 is a form locking manner. Preferably the insert 6 is configured flexible in that its base 19 can be lifted off like a bag relative to the base 20 of the container base component 5, even when the circumferential collar 16 at the container base component 5 is fixated through the fixation rim 7. Thus it can be advantageously provided that the container base component includes 5 openings (not illustrated) which facilitate air entry into the intermediary space between the insert 6 and the container base component 5, thus preventing a vacuum effect. This configuration is certainly also useful when joining, thus inserting the insert 6 into the container base component 5.

It is apparent from FIGS. 3 and 4 that the container base component 5 includes numerous stiffening ribs 21 at the container wall 3 and also at the container base 2, wherein the stiffening ribs provide additional stability to the container 1. Additional handles 22, 23 are provided on two opposite sides 8, 10 of the container wall 3, wherein the upper handles 22 are used for transporting the container 1 in empty condition and the lower container handles 23 are preferably used for transporting the container 1 in filled condition.

It is furthermore apparent that the lower handles 23 include a bar 25 reaching around a ventilation channel 24 provided in the container base 2, wherein the ventilation channel 24 facilitates air circulation between the space below the container base 2 and the space adjacent to the container wall 3, however does not facilitate direct air supply to the interior 4 of the container. Additional ventilation channels 26 are provided between the container wall 3 and the container base, wherein the ventilation channels also facilitate air circulation, but do not provide openings into the interior 4 of the container. The openings 24, 26 are only openings between the container wall 3 and the container base 2, wherein the openings do not reach into the container interior 4. In order for the openings 26 not to cause any weakening of the container base component 5, stiffening beams 21 are also provided between two respective openings 26.

It can also be alternatively provided that the bar 25 is omitted, wherein ventilation channel 24 is then configured as an indentation in the edge between the container wall 3 and the container base 2.

Also the other ventilation channels 26 can be configured as indentations of this type, however the configuration of the ventilation channels 24, 26 as openings as illustrated is preferred since this provides higher stability to the container 1.

It is evident from FIG. 4 that the container base 2 is provided with a stacking rim 27 and a stacking edge 28. When stacking plural containers 1 on top of one another the stacking rim 27 contacts the circumferential collar 17 of the fixation frame 7 and the stacking edge 28 engages the interior 4 of the container 1 disposed there under in a form locking manner. The openings 24, 26 on the one hand side facilitate pressure equalization so that stacked containers 1 can be un-stacked again easily and on the other hand side ample circulation is also assured between the container interiors 4 of containers 1 arranged in the stack and the container exterior, so that a high quality of the wine and fruit gummy mass is provided during the cooling and drying process. Thus it is advantageous for facilitating circulation that the ventilation openings 24, 26 in stacked condition of the container 1 are not covered or sealed by the container wall 3 of the another container 1 stacked under the first container 1 and the containers 1 have to be configured accordingly.

It is apparent in particular from FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 that the lower edge portions 29, 29′ of the container base component 5 and thus also the lower edge portions 30, 30′ of the insert 6 are provided with a rounded portion with a large radius.

The insert 6 is provided flexible like a bag and contacts the container base component 5 at all sides based on the deformation of the insert so that the insert is supported by the container base component 5. When using the container 1 as a powder case in the production of wine and fruit gummy the finished gummy can then be simply moved from the container 1 by turning it over and a new production process can begin after replacing the insert 6 with a new insert. Alternatively certainly also the employed insert 6 can be reused. However, the insert exchange can be performed more quickly since inserts 6 that are already treated with starch powder can be stored.

The insert 6 is thus configured with minimum friction, wherein the surface of the insert 6 is configured in a hydrophobic manner. Additionally the surface can also be provided with a particular structure in order to cause a lotus effect.

The insert 6 is preferably formed from a plastic foil which is food compatible for applications in the food industry. Furthermore any suitable plastic foil can be used, wherein the thickness is in a range of 0.1-1 mm, thus the desired flexibility is assured.

However, it is also possible that the plastic foils are being used as already preformed bag shaped foils and thus already have particular form stability in themselves. For this application in particular thicker foils in a range of 0.5-1.5 mm are being used.

It is evident from the description provided supra that container 1 facilitates making the production process for wine and fruit gummy more efficient and cost effective based on the stackability and the ventilation effect, wherein very good quality is still provided since sufficient air and heat circulation is provided. The container 1 can certainly also be advantageously used for other applications, in particular when sufficient air circulation into the container interior 4 has to be provided for plural containers 1 stacked on top of one another. In particular a modular configuration including the container base component 5 and an insert 6 facilitates cleaning the container and adapting the container 1 to various products to be received. The insert 6 can thus be provided with controlled surface properties which positively interact with the product which, however, cannot simply be provided in a cost effective and conventional production process, like e.g. injection molding. 

1-13. (canceled)
 14. A container for producing and/or storing a wine- and fruit gummy mass and similar, comprising a container base, a container wall and a container interior, wherein at least one ventilation channel configured as an opening is provided, wherein the at least one ventilation channel facilitates an air flow between the container base and the container wall.
 15. A container according to claim 14, wherein the container includes a container base component and an insert, wherein the insert is configured to be arranged in the container base component and arranged to be permanently connectable with the container base component.
 16. A container according to claim 15, wherein the insert is fixated in a disengageable manner through a fixation frame at the container base component.
 17. A container according to claim 16, wherein the insert is arranged between the fixation frame and the container base component.
 18. A container according to claim 16, wherein snap locking elements for disengageable snap locking of the fixation frame and the container base component are provided, and wherein the snap locking elements are clip shaped.
 19. A container according to claim 14, wherein the container base component includes rounded edge portions in the container interior at a transition portion from the container base to container wall.
 20. A container according to claim 15, wherein the insert is configured preformed with respect to the container base component.
 21. A container according to claim 15, wherein the insert is made from disposable material.
 22. A container according to claim 15, wherein the insert is configured at least partially flexible.
 23. A container according to claim 14, wherein openings are provided in the container base component which are oriented towards the container interior.
 24. A container according to claim 15, wherein the surface of the insert oriented towards the container interior is configured with reduced friction.
 25. A container according to claim 14, wherein at least two opposite handles are provided in the container wall.
 26. A container according to claim 14, wherein a stacking rim and/or a stacking edge is provided at the container base, wherein the stacking edge engages a lower container in a form locking manner when stacking two identical containers on top of one another. 